THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: LUKE 7:36-8:3 (MESSAGE)
One of the Pharisees asked him over for
a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just
then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a
guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume
and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her
hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When
the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was
the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is
who is falling all over him.”
Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have
something to tell you.” “Oh? Tell me.” “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed
five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and
so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” Simon
answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” “That’s right,” said
Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see
this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she
rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting,
but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided
nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume.
Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very,
very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” Then
he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” That set the dinner guests talking
behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” He ignored them and
said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
He continued according to plan, traveled
to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading
the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their
company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary,
the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of
Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their
considerable means to provide for the company.
Have you ever been forgiven? What did this feel like for you? Once I did something I was asked explicitly
not to do. Willfully, thinking I was
right, I did this thing anyway. When I
was confronted with what I had done and I confessed that I had done this thing
that I promised not to do, I was greeted not with punishment but with
forgiveness and with grace. It was the
first time I can remember having ever been confronted with forgiveness and I
was overwhelmed.
Forgiveness is powerful. It restores us. It invites us to continue to be in
relationship with others when we have done something to break that relationship,
to destroy that connection, to damage that trust.
If we understand the power of forgiveness, why is it
so hard to forgive? Why do we have such
a hard time sharing this kind of grace with others? Why do we believe that some deserve forgiveness
and others don’t?
Please join us this Sunday, June 16 at 10:00am in
Christ Church as Ted Bryson, our Lay Leader will share the sixth sermon in our
series New Creation: Questions for a Changing Church. This Sunday we will also celebrate Father’s
Day, Church School recognition and join in an all church picnic in the park
after worship. Looking forward to seeing
you in Church!
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